First By PATRICK BAKER MOST arthritis patients are terribly disappointed when their doctor tells them for the first time that the drug they will be taking to help rol their arthritis is simple ASA. To many, it’s almost like reliving the old, rather well- worn line, ‘Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.’’ ASA was originally derived from the bark of the willow tree and has been used since the time of Hippocrates (the ‘“‘the father’’ of medicine) for pain and fever. One major benefit of ASA is that it has one of the safest therapeutic indexes of any drug known. This means that the range between a beneficial effect and an overdose is very wide. EARLY EXPERIMENTS Early experiments with high dosages (up to 24 tablets per day) of ASA for rheumatic fever began early in this century. Those early investigators also quickly learned that this drug was a excellent anti-inflammatory. In its ‘‘enteric’’ or coated form, ASA has been found to produce less gastric upset. The basic problem for the patient who learns that ASA is their doctor’s drug of first choice is lack of under- .Standing of the treatment program. This situation may arise for a number of reasons but most often it is because their doctor has not taken the ANOREXIA nervosa has become the subject of so much attention that doctors may use the diagnosis on pa- tients who not anorexic but are suffering from other il- Inesses that lead to weight loss and vomiting. This warning ts contained in a report, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, by a team of mental health professionals from the Toronto General Hospital The report states that “‘anorexia nervosa 4s characterized by a relentless pursuit of a thin body and an cxaggcrated dread of weight gain and fat, often in spite of emaciation.”’ The ‘‘fundamental drive for thinness”’ in anorcata ner vosa is not found in other cmotional illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia and ‘‘conversion disorder’’, which may nevetheless be characterized by weight loss and vomiting -histamines or other . com- Anorexia, is it given too much weight ? ¢ effo time to give them a full and detailed explanation. In smaller doses, ASA is a mild pain reliever or ‘‘analgesic’’ that one might take for such common ailments as a cold, headache or hangover. But in large doses it is a valuable arthritis medication because of its ability to inhibit or reduce inflammation. LEAST UNDERSTOOD Despite their common availability, ASA products are probably the most over- used and least understood of all drugs. They can be pur- chased in a wide variety of forms, inchiding as'a ‘‘pure’’ product; coated or uncoated; as a tablet or capsule; ‘‘buf- fered’’ or combined with an antacid; combined with caf- feine, a mild stimulant found in coffee, tea and cola drinks; and they can be found in combination with anti- pounds in ‘‘cold’’ formulas. Generally speaking, most pure ASA brands are equal in strength and effectiveness, if taken as prescribed. That is why it is not necessary to pur- chase those advertised as “extra strength’? or pro- moted ‘‘for arthritis pain control’. The only extra benefits of those kinds are to the manufacturers and their shareholders who will enjoy the extra profit which the ad- ded cost will bring. STALENESS WARNING In the large dosages needed ‘Conversion disorder’’ oc- curs when food takes on an extreme symbolic importance in an individual’s life. A case study described in the report tells of a nineteen. year-old woman who associated food with sexual demands placed on her by her boyfriend and the sexual innucndos of her father The young woman's vomiting was @ means of cx pressing the revulsion she felt towards her boyfrend and her father The report states that doc tors must take care to reach a correct diagnosis so they can apply the most effective (treatment A patent suffering from anorexia should first be en couraged to slowly gain back the weight she has lost) But a patient suffering from = con version disorder: is best (reated in the carly stages by psychotherapy (Canadian Sctence News) GIVE BLOOD. GIVE LIFE! Tine (anadhan . Red Grose Socrety ty for inflmamatory control, physi- cians wil generally prescribe the coated aspirin which will eliminate the stomach irrita- tion and bleeding which can accompany heavy, use of plain ASA. However, if your doctor has put you on most cases of anti- the uncoated variety, and you are experiencing no difficul- ty, just. buy the cheapest house brand available. The only thing to watch for is tablets which have gone stale. ASA has a long shelf-life if stored in a cool, dry place and you can readily recognize regular A GWG Denim Jeans styled tor comtort tn 100% cotton. and priced to please They feature the popular boot cul styling and are bar tacked at stress points. Waist sizes 28 36 ? 3 99 SALE B. GWG Hopsack Pants have the gentleman s fit ina wash and wear durable blend of polyester acrylic/rayon In navy beige grey powder or Drown Warst sizes 30-42 finished leg 32 36 2499 SALE C29 - Wednesday, May 9, 1984 - North Shore News tablets which have gone past the point. of usefulness by their vinegary smell. A good place to store large supplies of ASA is under the bathroom sink in the vanity. Another.idea is to wrap them in plastic bags (you must remember to inhale all of the C. GWG Twill Shirt. Match tt to the punts and youve got a “Cowboy King s against arthritis air out of the plastic’ bag before you,store it) and keep | them in the ‘vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. Patrick Baker is Director Na- tional Communications .& Public Education for The Ar- . thritis Society. set Two breast pockets Polyester/cotton in beige navy or brown Sizes SML XI. 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